The NRC guidance for Power Reactor licensees may be found in NRC IE Circular 81-07. This does not define a release level but does tell you how hard you are required to look. Braidwood uses automated monitors for most items but we do allow for two ANSI qualified RPTs to perform direct frisks and smears for larger items as necessary. Smears are counted with a portable frisker.
Jeffrey J. Cady, MS, CHP, RRPT Radiation Protection Manager Exelon Generation - Braidwood Generating Station 35100 South Route 53 Braceville, IL 60407-9619 Office: 815-417-2700│Cell: 208-360-9480 │Pager: 815-767-6133 Email: jeffrey.c...@exeloncorp.com<mailto:cyrena.ow...@exeloncorp.com> From: owner-power...@hps1.org [mailto:owner-power...@hps1.org] On Behalf Of Lee, Sun G. Sent: Monday, January 26, 2015 11:45 AM To: powernet@hps1.org Cc: Trickett, Stephen M; Lee, Sun G. Subject: Powernet: Powernet questionnaire on unconditional release Perry Nuclear Power Plant would like to know: Our Station Procedures allow unconditional release of items from the RCA using a frisker to check for contamination on a smear. What is the conditional release limit for removable contamination, at your station? References: Using a frisker and rate meter to check for contamination on a smear cannot reliably detect this level of contamination. In addition; 1. The industry standard is to assess the activity on a smear using an instrument of known efficiency. This is common in the nuclear power industry for unconditional release. The requirement also exists in radioactive material licenses issued by Agreement States and the NRC. The determination of an efficiency requires a scaler and detector calibrated with an NIST traceable standard. Friskers are not calibrated to determine an efficiency using an NIST traceable source. 2. INPO 05-008 states that the best available technology should be used for unconditional release practices. Smear counters are readily available and provide better detection capability, i.e. a lower MDA, than a frisker with a rate meter. 3. ANI Inspection Criteria 8.7.7.5 states that defined detection levels should be established for unconditional release and the levels should be based on the minimum detection capabilities of the instrumentation being used for unconditional release. The current procedural requirement of no increase above background using a frisker is not a defined detection level. Instrumentation is available that can detect removable contamination below 200 dpm/100 cm2 but it is not currently required to be used. Question: Do you use a Tennelec, or similar counter, for meeting release criteria? Thank you. Sun Lee 440-465-8030 cell 440-280-5039 work ________________________________ ________________________________ The information contained in this message is intended only for the personal and confidential use of the recipient(s) named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or an agent responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this document in error and that any review, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately, and delete the original message. This e-mail and any attachments are confidential, may contain legal, professional or other privileged information, and are intended solely for the addressee. If you are not the intended recipient, do not use the information in this e-mail in any way, delete this e-mail and notify the sender. -EXCIP
